Explore Academic Programs at Princeton University
By Xander Jenkin, Natural Sciences Correspondent
Princeton University is renowned for its rigorous academic programme, and one area that sets it apart is its lab-based research courses. These courses provide students with hands-on, practical experience in scientific research, equipping them with skills that are highly sought after in various fields.
Taking a research course or sequence can be particularly beneficial for students who are considering a career in laboratory work or research. Such courses are available not only in the Natural Sciences department but also in other departments such as Chemistry, Engineering/Entrepreneurship, Psychology, and Molecular Biology.
One such sequence is the AST250 Space Physics Lab I and AST251 Space Physics Lab II. These year-long sequences allow students to carry out a group research project, where they learn lab skills, operate a vacuum chamber, and even build components in a cleanroom. In fact, a team in this sequence recently designed a more efficient and safer revised Absolute Beam Monitor (ABM) than the previous design.
Students in these sequences are not just observers; they design, iterate, and experiment to complete a project by the end of the spring semester. This active participation not only enhances their understanding of scientific methodology but also boosts their confidence in designing and conducting experiments or analyses.
Princeton's lab-based research courses are not limited to year-long sequences. There are also courses that offer lab-based research for a single semester, such as PHY312 or MOL350. These courses provide students with a unique experience and offer something that no lecture or classroom can.
In addition to these, there are Princeton courses that are entirely focused on conducting hands-on, lab-based research with a small team. These courses offer a supportive network of peers and mentors, making the learning experience more collaborative and engaging.
While specific undergraduate lab-based research courses may not be explicitly listed in this article, Princeton's strong emphasis on in-person collaboration and engagement in laboratory research suggests that many departments offer courses with embedded lab components to foster direct research experience.
Moreover, lab-based research at Princeton extends beyond undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Postdoctoral research appointments at the Princeton Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and graduate research assistantships involve close faculty mentorship and participation in ongoing research projects.
In summary, Princeton's lab-based research offerings emphasise rigorous, supervised, hands-on learning with career-advancing outcomes. While this article provides a glimpse into Princeton's lab-based research opportunities, for detailed course examples at the undergraduate level, consulting departmental course catalogues or Princeton's academic offices directly is recommended.
Science education at Princeton University extends beyond traditional classroom learning, with online resources available for space-and-astronomy, education-and-self-development, and online-learning to complement their lab-based research courses. These courses, such as the AST250 and AST251 Space Physics Lab sequence, offer a practical, immersive experience in scientific research that enhances understanding of the scientific methodology and boosts confidence in designing and conducting experiments or analyses. Furthermore, Princeton's lab-based research opportunities extend to postdoctoral research appointments and graduate research assistantships, providing a continuous learning and research experience that emphasizes career-advancing outcomes.
